Golf Putters II

As far as golf putters and heads and shapes go, there are really only a couple of definitions here. These are the blade and the mallet.

There is an abundance of both on the market. Even the less traditional looking golf putter heads are really a hybrid of both styles.

The classic shaped golf putters are the blade design or where the term ‘flat stick’ comes from.

This design probably still reigns most popular with the higher skilled, steadier nerved players because of the ‘feel’ they afford the player.

You’ll notice that most of today’s blade putters employ cavity back technology. This type of design is to help reduce any twisting of the putter face at contact.

The mallet golf putters resemble their namesake. The mallet design allows for an even weight distribution across a large area which will give the feel of a pendulum and allow for a consistent smooth stroke and get the distance needed with having to feel like you need to accelerate the putter head.

Other design considerations that you will see with golf putters will be center shafted or heel shafted. You’ll also note various degrees in the offset of the hosel.

This is where is looks like the shaft is bent forward of the putter head just before the two come together. Golf putter faces may also have inserts in them to provide the golfer with different ‘feels’ to the sweet spots. Putters even have varying degrees of loft to the putter face themselves.

I am often asked “what is the proper length of a golf putter?”

Today there isn’t a length that a shaft can’t be cut to. So the proper length of the putter is what feels best and above all what works best for you. You should pick out a putter length that matches your height and your posture over the ball.

The bottom line when picking out a golf putter that is right for you is to try out as many looks and feels as you can. Needless to say is to hit as many puts as you can when you are demo-ing golf putters for yourself.

Hit long puts, short puts, and in between puts. Golf putters that may work for me may be the worst choice you could make.

Don’t go by recommendations go by what you like. And never ever give away or get rid of that old putter… one day it might be your best friend again.

Golf Putters

The most important club in your bag, yet probably one of the least used in any given practice session is probably the golf putter.

Oh sure, you see people on the putting green.

Some with a few golf balls around them. But rarely do I see much of any serious practice time spent with golf putters.

So… it’s time for some talk about golf putters.

When it comes to reducing (or maybe better said, saving) your score the putter should become your closest friend.

Golf putters, the flat blade, the club you literally live and die by, is a club of many styles and faces.

Players of all levels pick and choose their putters by how the putter looks and feels to them. And above all, how much confidence they have in this club.

All of the mechanics of putting aside, the art of putting is as much look, feel, and confidence as anything else. The putter, more than any other golf club is in a players bag because they like they way it looks and feels and the confidence level it brings to their putting stroke. Choosing and settling on a particular putter can be a difficult task.

Since there are so many different makes, models, and styles of golf putters on the market, let’s take a look at a few of the aspects that make up this old friend of ours and maybe this will give you some food for thought.

The vast majority of the focus when considering buying a putter is on the putter head. As far as the material used in putter heads, this is as varied as the number of metals, and alloys there are available.

But again, putting is such touch and feel, don’t get caught up in what the putter head is made of, be comfortable with how the length and weight feel in your hands.

Keep in mind that lighter golf putters heads will have a tendency for you to impart a quick more hands oriented stroke while a heavier putter will probably slow your stroke down.

Keep in mind, if this is a weight change for you, you may see your putts come up short or long for awhile depending upon if you move to a lighter or heavier putter head.